The Mercedes-Benz 350 SLC was introduced in 1971 as the fixed-roof coupé version of the new R107 SL roadster. Given the internal designation C107, the SLC was designed as a luxurious four-seat grand tourer and remained in production alongside the SL throughout the 1970s.

Unlike earlier Mercedes-Benz SL coupés, the SLC was not simply a roadster fitted with a removable hardtop. Its wheelbase was extended by approximately 360 mm compared with the R107, providing enough space for proper rear seating and giving the car its distinctive long, elegant profile. The fixed roof incorporated unusual louvred side windows behind the doors, which became one of the SLC’s most recognisable design features.

The 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 SLC was powered by a 3.5-litre V8 engine. In European specification, the fuel-injected unit produced around 200 bhp, providing strong performance while retaining the smooth and refined character expected of a Mercedes-Benz grand tourer. Depending on specification and market, the engine could be paired with either a manual or automatic transmission, although automatic examples were particularly popular.

The SLC used independent suspension at all four corners, power-assisted steering and disc brakes, giving it sophisticated road manners for the period. Mercedes-Benz placed considerable emphasis on high-speed stability and long-distance comfort rather than producing an outright sports car. The result was a substantial grand tourer capable of covering long distances at sustained motorway speeds with impressive refinement.

Safety was also an important part of the design. The R107 and C107 generation incorporated carefully engineered crumple zones, a strong passenger compartment and numerous interior safety features. Mercedes-Benz’s considerable research into occupant protection during the period influenced many aspects of the car’s construction.

Inside, the 350 SLC offered considerably more accommodation than the two-seat SL. Its extended wheelbase provided rear seats suitable for passengers, while the cabin combined high-quality materials with the restrained and functional design characteristic of Mercedes-Benz during the early 1970s. Equipment levels were generous, with buyers able to specify features such as air conditioning, electric windows, leather upholstery and an automatic transmission.

The SLC would eventually become available with several larger engines, including the 450 SLC and later 450 SLC 5.0. Competition versions also achieved notable success in international rallying, demonstrating the strength and durability of the underlying design.

Production of the C107 SLC continued until 1981, when it was replaced by the larger SEC coupé based on the W126 S-Class. The R107 SL, by comparison, remained in production until 1989.

Today, the 1973 350 SLC represents an early example of one of Mercedes-Benz’s most distinctive grand touring designs. Its combination of V8 power, four-seat practicality, elegant pillarless coupé styling and traditional Mercedes-Benz engineering gives it a character quite different from the more familiar R107 SL and makes it an increasingly appreciated classic in its own right.